As they journeyed to Jerusalem where Jesus would face the events of the cross, he and the disciples passed through Jericho (46). On their way out of town, a crowd gathered around them. It was almost time for the Passover, and many priests lived in Jericho, so the road would have been packed with travelers and well-wishers. And there was a buzz surrounding this Galilean rabbi.
Read moreYou Are Called to Be His Disciple (Mark 1:16-20)
Now we come to the location which the first half of Mark's book centers around, the Sea of Galilee. In those days, and sometimes in the Bible, it was also referred to as the Sea of Tiberias, the Lake or Sea of Gennesaret, or the Sea of Chinnereth. (10 Minutes/2900 Words)
Read moreAn Introduction to First John
Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God the Son, was born of human flesh. While He walked the earth, so did others, and when Jesus was a teenager, a boy named John (not to be confused John the Baptist) was born. Years later, he would become a disciple of Christ. Each week throughout 2021, I will share a Bible study blog post taking us through the letter of 1 John. Only five chapters long, this brief book is worthy of our consideration. (4 Minutes/1000 Words)
Read moreWhat Jesus Treasures (Mark 12:41-44, Follow #40)
Sermon Notes — What Jesus Treasures (Mark 12:41-44, Follow #40)
In our story today, Jesus is going to let his disciples in on a secret. There, at the temple precincts, amid the noisy activity, Jesus found a true lover of God, a widowed woman who lived in poverty. She gave God everything she had. Jesus knew it. And he rejoiced at what he saw in her, so he pulled his disciples aside to tell them what he'd just witnessed.
Read moreOne Day Jesus Gained a Disciple (Mark 10:46-52)
As Jesus and his disciples journeyed to Jerusalem, they passed through **Jericho**. He was on his way to die. A **blind beggar** named Bartimaeus sat on the roadside, collecting anything he could from the travelers. When he heard **Jesus of Nazareth** was passing by, he called out to him. (3 Minutes/800 Words)
Read moreLearning Servanthood (Mark 10:35-45)
Here, we find two of Jesus' disciples responding to Jesus' announcement about his death. Their response is dense and out of touch. Looking back, James and John would agree. (6 Minutes/1500 Words)
Read moreFollow #25 -- Mark 8:34-38 -- Following Jesus
I must start today's teaching by reminding you of our place in the gospel of Mark. Mark had begun his book by revealing Jesus' identity: he is the Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1). And in the first eight chapters of his gospel, Mark shows us the beauty of Jesus' life. No one in the book had confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, the descendant of David, who would vanquish Israel's enemies and bring in an everlasting kingdom.
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